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Lesson 8: The Philippine government: principles and state policies

Section 1. The Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides

in the people and all government authority emanates from them.

1. Manifestations of a democratic and republican state:

a) The existence of bill of rights;
b) The observance of the rule of the majority;
c) The observance of the principle that ours is a government of laws, and not of
men;
d) The presence of elections through popular will;
e) The observance of the principle of separation of powers and the system of
checks and balances;
f) The observance of the principle that the legislature cannot pass irrepealable
laws; and
g) The observance of the principle that the state cannot be sued without its
consent.

2. Sovereignty of the people

a) Exercised indirectly through public officials; and
b) Exercised directly through suffrage.

Section 3. Civilian authority is, at all times, supreme over the military. The Armed
Forces of the Philippines is the protector of the people and the State. Its goal is to
secure the sovereignty of the State and the integrity of national territory.

1. Supremacy of civilian authority over the military

a) A safeguard against military dictatorship. A civilian, the President is the
commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the Philippines - the army, the navy,
the air force, the constabulary, and the marines.
b) Appointment of high-ranking officers is vested in the President with the consent
of the Commission on Appointments of Congress.
c) The President determines the budget of the military and craft national policy on
defence and security.

Section 4. The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people. The
Government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof,
all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to render personal
military or civil service.

1. The prime duty of the government

a) To serve and protect the people.
b) Government exists for the people and not the people for the government.
c) The state fulfills the prime duty by implementing state policies.

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Section 5. The maintenance of peace and order, the protection of life, liberty, and
property, and the promotion of the general welfare are essential for the enjoyment by all
the people of the blessing of democracy.

1. Peace and order

a) Maintenance of peace and order and the protection of life, liberty, and property
including the promotion of general welfare or common good.
b) Political stability and economic prosperity can only be obtained with peace and
order, security, and a life of dignity are established and maintained.

Section 6. The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

1. Principles of separation of church and state

a) The Church is not to interfere in purely political matters, vis a vis.
b) It also implied that “no law shall be made respecting the establishment of
religion (Art 3, Sec 5)”.
c) And “no public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, paid, or
support of any sect, church, denomination, sectarian institution or system of
religion (Art 6, Sec 29 [2])”.

2. Meaning of “establishment of religion”

a) The state shall have no official religion; and
b) The state cannot set up a church, whether or not supported with public funds;
nor aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another.

Section 13. The State recognizes the vital role of the youth in nation-building and
shall promote and protect their physical, moral, spiritual, intellectual, and social well-
being. It shall inculcate in the youth patriotism and nationalism, and encourage their
involvement in public and civic affairs.

1. Role of the youth in nation-building

a) Today’s youth, more knowledgeable and intelligent. They are better educated
and far more well-informed and articulate and politically conscious, mainly due
to easier access to information.
b) Duty of the state is to promote and protect the well-being of the youth to enable
them to develop physically, morally, spiritually, intellectually, and socially.

Section 27. The State shall maintain honesty and integrity in the public service and
take positive and effective measures against graft and corruption.

1. Honesty and integrity in public service

a) Corruption undermines the quality of life for people especially in poor countries.
b) The provision was incorporated in the constitution as a revelation of
“unprecedented magnitude” of graft and corruption.

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Lesson 9: Accountability of public officers

Section 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times
be accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty,
and efficiency, act with patriotism and justice, and lead modest lives.

1. Meaning of public office and public officer

a) A public office is the right, authority, and duty created and conferred by law,
either for a given fixed period or at the pleasure of the appointing power.
b) A public officer is an individual invested with some portion of sovereign function
to be exercised for the benefit of the public.

2. Nature of public office

a) It is a position of rendering service for public good and not for private gain.
b) It is not a property. The holder of the office may not claim vested right. Any
office (except created by the Constitution) may be abolished by law.
c) It is not a contract. One has no right to sue the government for the recovery of
damages which he/she may suffer from removal from office.

3. Importance of maintaining public trust in public officers

a) Proper maintenance of public affairs. To insure that every elected or appointed
officer to discharge its functions with high sense of public service morality who
consider their positions as sacred trusts and not as means of attainment of
power and wealth.
b) Survival of the government. If public officers are irresponsible, dishonest, of
doubtful loyalty, inefficient or unreasonable, the government loses the faith and
confidence of the people, thus, it will be more difficult for the government to
collect taxes, obtain public cooperation and support, secure compliance with its
laws and rules, and respond to various needs and demands of the people.

Section 2. The President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme Court, the
Member of the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman may be removed from
office, on impeachment for, and conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution,
treason, bribery, graft and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All
other public officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law, but
not by impeachment.

1. Meaning and nature of impeachment

a) Impeachment is the method of national inquest into the conduct of men.
b) The nature of a criminal prosecution before a quasi-political court, instituted by a
written accusation called articles of impeachment”, upon a charge of the
commission of a crime or some official misconduct or neglect.

2. Purpose of impeachment
a) To protect the people from official delinquencies. It is intended for the protection
of the State.

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3. Officials removable by impeachment

a) The President and the Vice-President;
b) The members of the Supreme Court;
c) The member of the Constitutional Commissions; and
d) The Ombudsman.

4. Grounds for impeachment

a) Culpable violation of the constitution. It refers to a wilful and intentional breach
of the constitution.
b) Treason. It is a crime committed by any Filipino person owing allegiance to the
Philippines that levies war against the Philippines or adheres to her enemies,
giving them aid and comfort within the Philippines of elsewhere.
c) Bribery. Direct bribery is the offense committed by any public officer who shall
agree to perform a crime in connection with his/her official duty in consideration
of any promise or gift received by such officer. Indirect bribery is the offense
committed by any public officer who shall accept gifts offered by reason of
his/her office.
d) Graft and corruption. It covers all graft and corruption practices.
e) Other high crimes. Crimes that are of serious and enormous nature as to affect
the very life or orderly workings of the government.
f) Betrayal of public trust. It covers the violation of the oath of office involving loss
of popular support even if the violation may not amount to a criminal offense.

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Lesson 10: The Legislative branch

Article 6: The Legislative department

1. The legislative branch consists of two chambers: the Senate and the House of
Representatives, which together form the Congress of the Philippines;
2. The Senate has 24 senators who are elected at large by the qualified voters of the
Philippines for a term of six years. Each senator can serve for a maximum of two
consecutive terms;
3. The House of Representatives has not more than 250 members who are elected for
a term of three years. The members are divided into two groups: district
representatives and party-list representatives; and
a) District representatives are elected by the voters in each congressional district;
and
b) Party-list representatives are elected by proportional representation from
national, regional, and sectoral parties or organizations.
c) Each representative can serve for a maximum of three consecutive terms.
4. The Senate and the House of Representatives have their own leaders: the Senate
President and the Speaker, respectively, who are elected by their members from
among themselves.

Major role of the Legislative department

1. It grants the Congress the power to declare the existence of a state of war;
2. It gives the Congress the power to impeach the President, the Vice-President, the
Members of the Supreme Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions,
and the Ombudsman;
3. It provides for a bicameral conference committee to settle differences between the
Senate and the House of Representatives on any bill or resolution;
4. It allows for people's initiative and referendum as modes of direct legislation by the
people; and
5. It prohibits any increase in the salaries of members of Congress during their term of
office.

Principle of checks and balances

1. Checks by the President
a) The President may veto or disapprove bills enacted by Congress; he/she may
modify or set aside the judgment of courts.

2. Checks by the Congress

a) Congress may override the veto of the President, reject certain appointments of
the President, revoke the proclamation of martial law or suspension of the
privilege of the writ of habeas corpus by the President, and amend or revoke
decisions of the courts (by enactment of new law or by an amendment of old
laws, giving it much meaning and interpretation).

3. Checks by the Judiciary

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a) Supreme Court as the final arbiter may declare legislative measures or

executive acts unconstitutional. SC also determines abuse of discretion
amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on part of Congress and President.

Qualification for members of the Congress

1. A Senator must be:
a) A natural born citizen of the Philippines;
b) At least 35 years of age on the day of the election;
c) Able to read and write;
d) A registered voter; and
e) A resident of the Philippines for not less than (2) years immediately preceding
the day of the election.

2. A Representative must be:

a) A natural born citizen of the Philippines;
b) At least 25 years of age on the day of the election;
c) Able to read and write;
d) Except for party-list representative, a registered voter in the district in which
he/she shall be elected; and
e) A resident thereof for a period of not less than (1) year preceding the day of the
election.

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Lesson 11: The Executive branch

Article 7: The Executive department

Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in the President of the Philippines.

1. Meaning of executive power

a) The power to administer the laws, carrying them into practical operation and
enforcing their due observance.

Section 2. No person may be elected President unless he is a natural-born citizen of the

Philippines, a registered voter, able to read and write, at least forty years of age on the
day of the election, and a resident of the Philippines for at least ten years immediately
preceding such election.

1. Qualification of the President and Vice-President

a) Natural born citizen;
b) A registered voter;
c) Able to read and write; and
d) At least (40) years of age on the day of the election.
e) The Vice-President must have the same qualifications of the President

Section 3. There shall be a Vice-President who shall have the same qualifications and
term of office and be elected with and in the same manner as the President. He may be
removed from office in the same manner as the President. The Vice-President may be
appointed as a Member of the Cabinet. Such appointment requires no confirmation.

Term of office
1. The President and the Vice-President shall be elected by direct vote of the people
for a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the 30th day of June.

Reelection of President and Vice-President

1. The President is absolutely disqualified for any reelection.
2. The Vice-President cannot serve for more that (2) successive terms.

Power of control over all executive departments, bureaus, and offices

1. Role of President as administrator
a) To see to it that every department, bureau and office under the executive
branch is managed and maintained properly by the person in charge of it in
accordance with pertinent laws and regulations.

2. Powers giving control

a) The power of appointment - to choose men of competence and confidence;
and
b) The power of removal - to remove incapable and dishonest officials.

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Military power of the President

1. Powers to meet emergency situations such as:
a) To call out the armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless violence, meet the
threat of invasion, or quell rebellion;
b) To suspend the privilege of the write of habeas corpus; and
c) To declare martial law2.

Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces

1. The President is the civilian commander-in-chief of all armed forces of the
Philippines.
2. Authorized, if becomes necessary, to call out the armed forces to prevent or
suppress lawless violence, invasion, or rebellion.

Budgetary power of the President

1. The President is task in preparing the budget of receipts and expenditures based on
existing and proposed revenue measures and other sources of financing and
submitting it to Congress.
2. The budget shall be the basis of the general appropriations act to be enacted by the
Congress for the following year.

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Lesson 12: The Judicial branch

Article 8: The Judicial department

Section 1. The judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such lower
courts as may be established by law. Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of
justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and
enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of
discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or
instrumentality of the Government.

Meaning of judicial power

1. The power and duty of courts of justice to apply the laws to contests or disputes
concerning legally recognized rights or duties between the state and private
persons or individuals.

Scope of judicial power

1. Adjudicatory power
a) To settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and
enforceable; and
b) To determine whether there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to
lack or excess jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the
government.

2. Power of judicial review

a) To pass upon the validity or constitutionality of the laws of the state and the acts
of the other departments of the government;
b) To interpret them; and
c) To render binding judgment.

3. Incidental powers
a) To effectively discharge of the judicial functions such as the power to punish
person adjudged in contempt.

Qualifications for members of the Supreme Court and lower collegiate court
1. Member of Supreme Court qualifications:
a) A natural born citizen of the Philippines;
b) At least 40 years of age;
c) Must have (15) year or more, been a judge of a lower courts or engaged in the
practice of law in the Philippines; and
d) A person of proven competence, integrity, probity, and independence.

2. Lower collegiate courts

a) Qualifications of members of any lower collegiate court shall be prescribed by
Congress.

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Lesson 13: Constitutional Commissions

Article 9 (B). Section 1. The Civil Service Commission

1. Composed of a Chairman and (2) Commissioners. A collegiate body to enhance its
independence on the theory that it will be more resistant to political pressure or
influence.

Qualification of members
1. Natural-born citizens of the Philippines;
2. At least (35) years of age at the time of their appointment.
3. A person with proven capacity for public administration. There must be a showing
that they have been in the service as an effective public administrator.
4. Must NOT have been a candidate for any elective position in the elections
immediately preceding their appointment.

Appointment and terms of office

1. Appointment by the President with the consent of the Commission of Appointments
for a term of (7) years without reappointment. For the commissioners, first
appointment is for (7) years, second appointment is for (5) years, and the third
appointment is for (3) years without reappointment.

Meaning of Civil Service

1. A professionalized body of men and women who have made of the government
service a lifetime career.
2. A portion of public service that is governed by the merit principle in the selection of
officers and employees.

Powers and function of the Commission

1. Administer and enforce the constitutional and statutory provisions on the merit
system;
2. Promulgate policies, standards, and guidelines for the Civil Service and adopt plans
and programs to promote economical, efficient, and effective personnel
administration in the government;
3. Supervise and coordinate the conduct of civil service examinations;
4. Approve appointments;
5. Inspect and audit periodically the personnel work programs of the different
departments, bureaus, offices, agencies, and other instrumentalities of the
government;
6. Hear and decide administrative disciplinary cases;
7. Perform such other functions as properly belonging to central personnel agency.

Article 9 (C). Section 1. The Commission on Elections

1. Composed on (1) chairman and (6) commissioners. The importance of the
commission is the possession of qualities of integrity, moral character, and
independence of mind by its members.

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Qualification of members
1. Natural-born citizens of the Philippines;
2. At least (35) years of age at the time of their appointment;
3. At least a bachelor’s degree holder; and
4. Must NOT have been a candidate for any elective position in the immediately
preceding elections.
5. The constitution requires majority of the members including the Chairman to be a
member of the Philippine Bar and a law practitioner for at least (10) years.

Appointment and terms of office

1. The Chairman and the Commissioners are appointed by the President with the
consent of the Commission on Appointments for a term of (7) years without
reappointment. For the Commissioners, (3) shall hold office for (7) years, (2) for (5)
years, and the last member for (3) years without reappointment.

Powers and functions of the Commission

1. To enforce laws relative to the conduct of elections, and among others.
a) The power to annul or cancel illegal registry list of voters;
b) To cancel the canvass of election returns of the Board of Canvassers;
c) To suspend the proclamation of winning candidates pending an inquiry;
d) To enforce and administer plebiscites, initiatives, referenda and recalls.
2. To decide election contest. When a defeated candidate for an elective public office
questions the right to said office of ONE who has been PROCLAIMED elected.
3. To register political parties. This is to make our political system more responsive to
the needs and demands of the times.
4. To recommend measures. It has the duty to recommend measures as would effect
more improvements on the election laws of the country such as curbing
overspending, enforcement of fair-and-equal exposure rule for political parties and
their candidates, limitations of places where propaganda materials shall be posted,
and prevent a strong party to candidate to have undue advantage of the weakness
of others.

Article 9 (D). Section 1. Commission on Audit

1. Composed of a Chairman and (2) commissioners to cope with the expanding audit
responsibility which embraces every agency of the government and encompasses
every government activity.

Qualification of members
1. Natural-born citizen of the Philippines;
2. At least (35) years of age at the time of their appointment;
3. MUST be Certified Public Accountant with not less than (10) years of auditing
experience or members of the Philippine Bar practicing for at least (10) years; and
4. Must NOT have been candidate for any elective position in the elections preceding
their appointment.

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Appointment and terms of office

1. The Chairman and the Commissioners are appointed by the President with the
consent of the Commission on Appointments for a term of (7) years without
reappointment.

Powers and functions of the Commission

1. To examine, audit, and settle accounts pertaining to:
a) The revenue and receipts of the government or any of its subdivisions, agencies
or instrumentalities; and
b) All expenditures or uses of funds and property owned or held in trust by, or
pertaining to the government.
2. To act as central accounting office of the government. The commission keeps the
general accounts of the government, thus, the commission is the official custodian
of all government records of accounts. The commission records all the transactions
involving the collection of public funds, their payments into the treasury, and other
expenditures and disbursements.
3. To submit an annual financial report and recommend measures. This enables the
Congress to know how faithfully its appropriations laws have been carried out. The
report will inform the President on the manner by which the departments under him
have used the funds allotted to their various administrative activities.

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Lesson 14: Human Rights and Social Justice

Article 3. Concept of bill of rights

1. Defined as a declaration and enumeration of a person’s rights and privileges which
the constitution is designed to protect against violations by the government, or by an
individual or groups of individuals.
2. Charter of liberties for the individual and a limitation upon the power of the state.

Classes of rights
1. Natural rights - rights possessed by every citizen without being granted by the
state for they are given to man by God.
2. Constitutional rights - rights conferred and protected by the constitution. It cannot
be modified or taken away by the law making body.
3. Statutory rights - right provided by laws promulgated by the law-making body.

Section 1. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of
law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws.

Persons protected
1. It embraces all persons within the territorial jurisdiction of the Philippines without
regard to any difference of race, color, or nationality.

Section 2. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects against unreasonable searches and seizures of whatever nature and for any
purpose shall be inviolable, and no search warrant or warrant of arrest shall issue
except upon probable cause to be determined personally by the judge after examination
under oath or affirmation of the complainant and the witnesses he may produce, and
particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

Scope of protection
1. Persons - applies to everybody whether accused or not.
2. Houses - this is not limited to dwelling houses but extends to garage, warehouse,
shop, store, office, and even a safety deposit vault.
3. Paper and effect - this include sealed letters and packages which may be opened
and examine only in pursuance of a valid search warrant.

Section 3. (1) The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable

except upon lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise
as prescribed by law.

Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the preceding section shall be inadmissible
for any purpose in any proceeding.

Meaning of right of privacy

1. Defined as right to be left alone.

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2. Right of a person to be free from undesirable publicity, or disclosure and as the right
to live without unwarranted interference by the public.

Limitations on the right

1. Upon lawful order of the court; or
2. When public safety or order requires otherwise as prescribed by law.

Note: the first limitation is in relation to the search warrant issued by the court. The
second is subject to the police power of the state.

Section 4. No law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech, of expression, or of

the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the government
for redress of grievances.

Scope of freedom of expression

1. This includes specific guarantees of free speech and free press;
2. The rights of assembly and petition;
3. The right to form associations or societies not contrary to law; and
4. The right to religious freedom.

Section 6. The liberty of abode and of changing the same within the limits prescribed by
law shall not be impaired except upon lawful order of the court. Neither shall the right to
travel be impaired except in the interest of national security, public safety, or public
health, as may be provided by law.

Meaning of liberty of abode and travel

1. The right of a person to have his home in whatever place chosen by him and
thereafter to change it at will, and to go where he pleases, without interference from
any source.

Article 13. Social Justice and Human Right

Section 1. The Congress shall give highest priority to the enactment of measures that
protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social,
economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequalities by equitably
diffusing wealth and political power for the common good.

To this end the state shall regulate the acquisition, ownership, use, and disposition of
property and its increments.

Section 2. The promotion of social justice shall include the commitment to create
economic opportunities based on freedom of initiative and self-reliance.

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Concepts of social justice

1. It requires the adoption by the State (Government) measures that guarantee the
right of all people to equality of opportunity in all fields of human endeavour and to
equitable sharing of the fruits of social and economic development.
2. “Those who are less favoured in life be more favoured in law.”

Duty of State to promote social justice

1. Aims of policy to promote social justice.
a) To protect and enhance the right of all people to human dignity;
b) To reduce social, economic, and political inequalities; and
c) To remove cultural inequities.

Article 9, Section 17. Human Rights

The Commission on Human Rights

1. Composition - composed of a Chairman and (4) members.
2. Qualifications, appointment, and term.
a) Natural-born citizens of the Philippines;
b) Majority shall be members of the Philippine Bar;
c) To be appointed by the President WITHOUT the need of confirmation from the
Commission of Appointments.
3. Independence
a) The commission is independent of the (3) branches of the government. The
constitution seeks to safeguard the commission from undue pressure from
different offices of the government.

Reasons for creation of the Commission

1. Military abuses / human rights violations attributed to martial law regime;
2. Primacy of human rights. As stated in the constitution, “the State values the dignity
of every human person and guarantee full respect for human rights”.

Power and Functions of the Commission

1. Investigate, on its own or on complaint by any party, all forms of human rights
violations involving civil and political rights;
2. Adopt its operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite for contempt for
violations thereof in accordance with the Rules of Court;
3. Provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights of all persons
within the Philippines, as well as Filipinos residing abroad, and provide for
preventive measures and legal aid services to the underprivileged whose human
right have been violated or need protection;
4. Exercise visitorial powers over jails, prisons, or detention facilities;
5. Establish continuing program for research, education, and information to enhance
respect for the primacy of human rights; and
6. Recommend to the Congress effective measure to promote human rights and to
provide for compensation to victims of violations of human rights, or their families.

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Lesson 15: Citizenship

Section 1. The following are citizens of the Philippines:

(1) Those who are citizens of the Philippines at the time of the adoption of this
Constitution;
(2) Those whose fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines;
(3) Those born before January 17, 1973, of Filipino mothers, who elect Philippine
citizenship upon reaching the age of majority; and
(4) Those who are naturalized in accordance with law.

General ways of acquiring citizenship

1. Involuntary method - by birth, because of blood relationship or place of birth; and
2. Voluntary method - by naturalization.

Citizens by birth
1. Jus sanguinis - blood relationship is the basis for the acquisition of citizenship. The
children follow the citizenship of the parents or one of them.
2. Jus soli or jus loci - place of birth serves as the basis for acquiring citizenship. A
person becomes a citizen of the state where he is born irrespective of the
citizenship of the parents.

Kinds of citizens under the constitution

1. Natural-born citizens
a) Who at the moment of their birth are already citizens of the Philippines, and
b) Do not have to perform any act to acquire his/her Philippine citizenship

2. Citizens at the time of the adoption of the new constitution

a) Refer to those who are considered citizens of the Philippines under the 1973
constitution at the time of the adoption of the new constitution.

3. Citizen through election

a) Refers to those born of Filipino mothers before January 17, 1973 who, upon
reaching the age of majority, elect Philippine citizenship.

4. Naturalized citizens
a) Refers to those who were originally citizens of another country, but who, by an
intervening act, have acquired new citizenship in a different country.

Loss of citizenship
1. Voluntarily
a) By naturalization in a foreign country;
b) By express renunciation of citizenship;
c) By subscribing to an oath of allegiance to support the constitution and laws of a
foreign country;
d) By rendering service to, or accepting commissions in the armed forces of a
foreign country; and

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2. Involuntarily
a) By cancellation of his certificate of naturalization by the court; and
b) By having declared by competent authority, a deserter in the Philippine armed
forces in time of war.

3. Re-acquisition of lost Philippine citizenship

a) By naturalization;
b) By repatriation of deserters of the Philippine armed forces and women who lost
their citizenship by reason of marriage to an alien (foreigner), after the
termination of their marital status; and
c) By direct act of the Congress of the Philippines.

Note: Repatriation is effected by merely taking the necessary oath of allegiance to the
Republic of the Philippines and registering the same in the proper civil registry.

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Lesson 16: Electoral system

Section 1. Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise
disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided
in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they propose to vote for
at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other
substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.

Meaning of suffrage
1. The right and obligation to vote of qualified citizen in the election of certain national
and local officers.
2. This also includes participation in the decision of public questions submitted to the
people.

Nature of suffrage
1. A mere privilege
a) To be given or withheld by the lawmaking power subject to constitutional
limitations.
b) This should be granted only to individual upon the fulfillment of certain minimum
conditions deemed essential for the welfare of society.

2. A political right
a) This enables every citizen to participate in the process of government to assure
that it derives its powers from the consent for the governed.

Scope of suffrage
1. Election
a) People choose their officials for definite and fixed period and to whom they
entrust the exercise of governmental powers.
2. Plebiscite
a) Given to a vote of the people expressing their choice for or against a proposed
law or enactment submitted to them.
b) This is required by the constitution to secure the approval of the people directly
affected by certain proposed changes in the constitution.
3. Referendum
a) The submission of a law or part thereof by the national or local legislative body
to the voting citizen for their ratification or rejection.
4. Initiative
a) A process whereby the people directly propose and enact laws.
5. Recall
a) A method by which a public officer may be removed from office during his
tenure or before the expiration of his term by a vote of the people after
registration of a petition signed by a required percentage of the qualified voters.

Qualifications of voters
1. A citizen of the Philippines;

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2. Not otherwise disqualified by law;

3. At least (18) years of age; and4. Have resided in the Philippines for at least (1) year
and in the place wherein he proposes to vote for at least (6) months preceding the
election.

Persons disqualified to vote

1. Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment for
not less than (1) year.
2. Any person who has been adjudge by final judgment committed any crime involving
disloyalty to the duly constituted government such as rebellion, sedition, violation of
the anti-subversion and any crime against national security.
3. Insane or incompetent persons as declared by competent authority.

Section 2. The Congress shall provide a system for securing the secrecy and sanctity of
the ballot as well as a system for absentee voting by qualified Filipinos abroad.

The Congress shall also design a procedure for the disabled and the illiterates to vote
without the assistance of other persons. Until then, they shall be allowed to vote under
existing laws and such rules as the Commission on Elections may promulgate to protect
the secrecy of the ballot.

System for securing the secrecy and sanctity of the ballot

1. Untrammeled exercise of the right to vote
a) It is essential to insure that the voters shall exercise their right freely,
uninfluenced by threats, intimidation or corrupt motives.

2. Voting by disabled and illiterate

Congress will have to enact a law prescribing procedures that will enable the disabled
and illiterates to secretly cast their ballots without requiring the assistance of other
persons, to prevent them from being manipulated.

FINALS - Politics, Governance, and Citizenship